Single-pipe steam-heating system



Octu 29, 1929. F. w. GAY

l SINGLE PIPE STEAM HEATING SYSTEM Filed March 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet llllllllllllll/ l 4 VII/Illa INVENTOR. aefJI/.Gfajj BY- Oct. 29, 1929. F. w; GAY 1,733,120

`SINGLE PIPE STEAM HEATING SYSTEM Filed Maron 2, 19'27 2 sheets-sheet 2 INI/ENTOR. JwefJ/Ifywy,

Patented Oct. 29, 1929 PATENT OFFICE FRAZER W. GAY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY SINGLE-PIPE STEAM-HEATING SYSTEM Application-.med March 2,

This invention relates to single-pi steam heating systems and has for its o ject to provide a heating system of this character wherein the radiator temperature may be varied at will.

In the ordinary single-pipe steam heating system the radiator valve must be either completely open or completely closed for practical operation. Should the valve be at any position that is intermediate its full open orfull closed position, the incoming steam prevents the condensate within the radiator from returning to the boiler, resulting in the production of disagreeable noises and unsatisfactory operation of the radiator. ll/'ith the radiator valve completely open the radiator is heated to its highest temperature and with this valve closed the radiator is cold.

Inasmuch as the ordinary singlepipe steam heating system is unsuited for installations Where the radiator temperature is desired to be varied, resort is commonly had to the two-pipe steam heating system where temperature regulation of the radiator is desired. In such systems a separate return pipe carries the radiator condensate back t0 the boiler, but these systems are expensive and difficult to'install. y

A feature of this invention is to provide apparatus for modifying the single-pipe steam heating| system so that the radiator temperature may be varied as desired.

AnotherA feature of this invention is to provide apparatus of the above character which may be applied to the radiator of any single-pipe heating system.

Still another feature of this invention re- Y sides in the provision of apparatus of the above character that is of simple construetion and which may be readily installed and easily operated.

Other features and advantages will become a apparent from' the specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the invention is embodied in concrete form.

In the drawings Figure 1 illustrates the modifying ap- 1927. ,Serial N0. 171,928.

paratus of this invention applied to a water type of radiator;

Figure k2 is an enlarged view with parts broken away of a portion of the structure of Figure 1; 55

Figure 3 is a modified detail view of a part of Figure 2;

Figure 4 illustrates the modifying apparatus applied to a movable steam type radiator; o0

Figure 5 illustrates the modifying Aapparatus applied to a stationary steam type radiator; and l Figure 6 illustrates the modifying a -v paratus applied to a radiator that is Simi ar to the one illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, a radiator 1 comprises a plurality of sections connected together at their upper and lower ends so as to permit fluid to pass between the sections at such connections. A reservoir 2 is positioned above the radiator 1 and is connected to the end sections 3 and 4 of this radiator by nipples 5. The top 6 of reservoir 2 is provided with a plurality of perforations. A horizontally extending diaphragm 7 is provided in the reservoir 2 and has an aperture 10 extending therethrough. A partition 11 is provided in the reservoir 2 near the end that is connected to the end section 4 and this 80 partition extends upwardly for a portion of the height of the reservoir.

The lower end of sect-ion 4 of the radiator is connected by a pipe 12 to a verticall extending reservoir designated as a whole by the reference numeral 13. The upper end of section 4 is also connected by piping 14 to the reservoir 13. A control valve 15 is inserted in the piping 14 between the section 4 and reservoir 13 and is within convenient reach 90 vof a person standing near the radiator 1. AS illustrated in Figure 2 the reservoir 18 comprises a hollow cylindrical portion 16 that is closed at its upper end by a cap 17 and is threaded at its lower end into the upper end of a T 18. The lower end of T 18 is closed by a threaded plug 20. Pipe 12 is threadcd into the T 18 while piping 14 is threaded into the cap 17. The plug 20 is provided with a central aperture through which a heater pipe 21 is threaded. From the T 18 the heater pipe 21 extends upwardly to a point near the top of the reservoir 13. The portion of the heater pipe 21 that extends above theplug 20 has its upper end closed by a threaded cap 22. A vent pipe 23 is open at its upper end and extends within the heater pipe 21 from a point near the'top of the heater ipe to a point below the reservoir 13. Vent pipe 23 is threaded at its lower end into the upper branch of a T 24. The horizontal branch of the T 24 extends through an aperture provided in the heater pipe 21 and is connected to an air valve 25. A U-shaped trap 26 is threaded into the lower branch ofthe T 24.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

lVith the control valve 15 open, a circulating medium such as water is oured into the reservoir 2 from above and ows under the action of gravity into the radiator 1 and reservoir 13 filling these members. The final yliquid level in the reservoir 2 may be above or below the diaphragm 7 for purposes that will be later described.

Boiler steam is now admitted to the heater I pipe 21. The steam ascends in heater pipe 21 and drives out the air through the vent pipe 23. The air descends in the vent pipe 23 and passes through the T24 and air valve 25 into the atmosphere. Condensation collecting in the vent pipe 23 drains out through the trap 26 back into the heater pipe 21 where it returns to the boiler. The lqiuid collected in the trap 26 forms a seal and prevents steam from entering the lower end of the vent l pire. ,I

, he temperature of the heater pipe 21 corresponds to that of the surrounding water or circulating medium within the reservoir 13. With this temperature below that. of the steam within the hea-ter pipe, heat flows from the steam through the wall of the heater pipe and is absorbed by the water within the reservoir 13. The water within this reservoir becoming heated, decreases in density and is forced by fthe relatively cold and denser water within the radiator 1 to ascend, passing out of the reservoir 13 through the piping 14 and into the top of the radiator 1.

Within the radiator 1 this heated water gives up its heat causing the air surrounding the radiator tobe heated. As this water cools it descends and finally again enters the reservoir 13 to be reheated and repeats its cycle of movement. A portion of the heated water` leaving the reservoir 13 ascends from the radiator section 4 and passes up through one nipple 5 into the reservoir 2. Within the reservoir 2 this water passes over the partition 11 into the larger portion ofthe reservoir. In this larger portion of the reservoir 2 the heated water gives up its heat and descends, passing out of the reservoir through the other nipjthesurface of the Water to a small quantity,

determined by the size of the aperture 10. llVith the water level above the diaphragm 7, however, evaporation t'akes place rapidly from the large exposed Water surface and the reservoir 2 in such instance acts also as a humidifier.

By turning the handle of the control valve 15 the4 valve opening is varied, thereby varying the rate of flow of heated water passing from the reservoir 13 into the radiator 1. In this manner the temperature of the radiator 1 may be varied so as to maintain the temperature of the air heatedby the radiator at an value desired. The amount of heat absorbed from the heater pipe 21 by the circulating medium varies in proportion to the opening of the valve 15 and hence' a maximum of efliciency is obtained in the operation of the heating system.

Ifdesired a different type of trap such as illustrated in Figure 3 may be used in lieu of the -U-shaped trap 26. In this figure the lower branch of the T 24 is closed by a plug and a P-type trap 27 is shown connected between the pipe 28 leading to the air valve and the heater pipe 21. This trap is positioned entirely without the heater pipe 21 and is readily accessible.

. The heater pipe instead of being arranged to heat the circulating medium in a reservoir that is connected to the radiator, may be arranged to heat the circulating medium directly Within the radiator, thereby eleminating the use of an external reservoir. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figure 4, wherein 30 is a radiator of the steam type having end sections 31 and 32. Endsection 32 is formed at its lower end with an outwardly extending lug 33 that is pivotally mounted on a pin 36 that is carried by a stationary pedestal 34. A plug 35 is threaded into the screw 38 may be turned about the pedestal 41 in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of the pivotal pin 36. A handle 42 is secured to the upper end of screw 38. By turning the handle 42 and thereby causing the lug 37 to move up or down on the screw 38, the radiator 3() may be swung as a Whole about the pivotal pin 36.

yes

A steam riser 43 is connected by a. section 44 of flexible pipe to a heater pipe 45. The heater pipe 45 is similar in construction to the heater pipe described in connection with the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and therefore requires no furtherdescription. Heater pipe 45 is threaded through an aperture provided in the plug 35 and extends into the lower portion of the radiator 30.

In the operation of the radiator 30 the same is partially filled with a liquid circulating medium. A liquid such as alcohol having a lower boiling point than that of water is preferably used as the circulating medium. With the handle 42 adjusted so that the radiator 30 is in a horizontal position, the liquid surface level of the circulating medium is positioned so that the heater pipe 45 is about one-half submerged. Upon supplying steam to the heater pipe, heat is transmitted to the circulating medium causing its temperature to rise. As the temperature of the circulating medium rises its vapor pressure increases. When the temperature of the circulating medium reaches its boiling point, the vapor pressure is sufficient to cause rapid evaporation of the circulating medium. The vapor of the circulating medium thus fills the radiator 30 causing the air therein to be driven out through the air valve 29. This vapor upon coming into contact `with the inner surface of the radiator raises the temperature of the radiator and causes the air surrounding the radiator to be heated. Upon giving up its heat to the radiator the vapor condenses and trickles down into the bottom of the radiator where it is again reheated and vaporized by the heater pipe 45.

By adjusting the handle 42 so as to cause the radiator to turn about the pivotal pin 36 the heater pipe 45 may be submerged to any depth within the liquid circulating medium, thereby varying the extent of the surface of contact between the heater pipe and the circulating medium. By thus varying the extent of this surface of contact the rapidity of evaporation of the circulatingmedium is varied and in this manner the temperature of the radiator 30 may be changed so as to maintain the temperature of the air heated by the radiator at any desired value.

Should water be used as the circulating medium the temperature of the steam within the heater pipe 45 must be above that ot the boiling point of water so that the water within the radiator may be vaporized as desired.

Instead of shifting the radiator about a pivotal support in order to vary the extent of the surface of contact existing between the heater pipe and the circulating medium, other methods may be used for obtaining this variation. In Figure 5 for example, the radiator 50 is stationary and a movable reservoir 48 containing liquid circulating medium is used for varying the liquid level within the radiator 45() and hence the extent of the surface of contact between the heater pipe and the circulating medium. The top andthe bottom of reservoir 48 are connected by hose 53 and 54 to the lower portion of the radiator 50. The reservoir 48 is supported by a link 51 that has a series of spaced hooks 52 extending therefrom. Any one of the hooks 52 may be selectively engaged over a bracket 53 projecting from the radiator' 50. By raising or lowering the reservoir 48 so that it is supported from different hooks, the heat given ofi' by the radiator may be changed as desired. l

In Figure 6 the heater pipe 54 is arranged to heat the circulating medium in a reservoir 55 that is connected to the radiator 56 by piping 57 and 58. This arrangement is similar to that described in connection with Figuresl to 3. The radiator 56 is only partially lilled, however, with the liquid circulating medium. A valve 60 is inserted in the piping 57 between the radiator 56 and the reservoir 55 and a valve 61 is inserted in the piping 58 between these members. Valve 61 is connected by a link 62 to a thermostatic y regulator 63.

When the valve 6() is employed, the telnperature of the radiator is varied by normal operation of this valve which may be set to various degrees between fully open and full y closed conditicn. When this valve is fully open the circulating medium within the reservoir 55 is evaported at a maximum rate and the vapor produced passes through the valve 60 to heat the radiator 56 vto its highest temperature. As this'valve is moved toward closed position the rate of flow of the vapor through the valve opening is reduced causing the temperature of the radiator to (ccrease. This restricting of the vapor low also causes an increased pressure to be developed in the reservoir 55 which results in the lowering of the liquid level in this reservoir, the liquid passing out through the piping 58 back into the radiator 56. When the valve 60 is fully closed the vapor within reservoir 55 cannot pass into the radiator 56 and the radiator becomes cold.

IVhen the valve Gl is employed, the temperature of the radiator is automatically controlled by the operation of this valve. The extent to which this valve is open determines'the rate of flow of liquid through the piping 58 into the reservoir 55 and there fore the rate at which vapor passes through the piping 57 into the radiator. The thermo static regulator is arranged to operate the valve 61 so as to maintain the temperature of the radiator 56 at any desired value.

It is to be noted that the circulating medium absorbs only sufficient heat from the heater pipe to meet the requirements made upon the radiator. This inherent operation of the heating systemof this invention re-V ply heat to this pipe.

' widely As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawin shall be interpreted as illustrative and not m a limiting sense. y

What is claimed is:

1. In a heating system, a radiator, said radiator being .arranged to receive a liquid circulating medium, a heater pipe extending into said radiator, said heater pipe being immersed inthe liquid circulating medium and adapted to heat this circulating medium and cause, its vaporization, thereby effecting the heating of the radiator, and mea-ns for tilting theradiator so as to vary the extent to which the heater pipe is immersed in the liquid circulating medium, whereby the radiator temperature is varied.

2. In a heating system, a radiator, one end of said radiator being pivotally mounted upon a pedestal, means for raising and lowering the other end of the radiator whereby the radiator is caused to turn about its pivotal support on the edestal, a liquid circulating medium parta ly filling said radiator, a heater pipe extending into the lower cportion of said radiator and immersed in sai` liquid circulating medium, said heater pipe being adapted to contact with the liquid circulatin medium within the radiator, said raising an lowering means lbeing operative to tilt the radiator so as to vary the extent to which the heater pipe is immersed in said liquid circuating medium, whereby the rate of vaporizing the liquid circulating medium is varied f and the temperature of the radiator correspondingly varied.

3. In a heating system a radiator for receiving a quantity of volatile liquid heat vehicle in its lower portion, a. heater pipe extending into said lower portion to contact with said vehicle for vaporizing the latter, and manually operable means to increase or decrease at will the area of contact of said vehicle with said heater pipe, whereby the rate of evaporation of said liquid vehicle is varied to proportionally vary the quantity of heat emitted by said radiator.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set f forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of March, 1927.

. FRAZER W. GAY. 

